The latest news from Melanesia.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: Do you consider yourself to be someone who gossips? You may have an aversion to that word, but chances are, you're a regular gossip as most of us are. So, why do we gossip? Jolanda Jetten, Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland says gossip is a central part of life.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport

In part two, 'lost for words'. That was the reaction of Wellington's deputy mayor Ben McNulty to the hefty price tag on Wellington Central Library's new website: 600 thousand dollars. Is a website really worth that much? Advertising creative Vaughn Davis joins the panel to debate. Then, good news for farmers looking for love; an Australian-made app aimed at romantically connecting the gumboot-clod is launching in New Zealand this month. the panel talks to the developer of Howdy, Mia Ryan.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Denise L'Estrange-Corbet and Andie McCombs. First up, Coality's latest data on house prices is out and prices are down 17 percent from their 2022 peak. What are prices going to do in the near future? The panel talks to Kelvin Davidson, chief property economist at Cotality. Then, the government is marching towards banning under 16s from social media, but the Free Speech union says they don't even know if a ban would be lawful under freedom of expression laws. Is the government going too fast on this? Jilliane Heather, Chief executive of the Free Speech Union discuses the issues with the panel.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the rise of black market tobacco consumption across the Tasman and the Finke Desert Race revving up for it's 50th anniversary.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

He may be a controversial choice for All Blacks fans, but the team's coaches clearly rate him. Former Wallaby Quade Cooper has been hired as an expert analyst for the upcoming All Blacks tests. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke with Lisa Owen.

Four Dunedin students from Taieri College have the answer to those hideously cold mornings where your car windscreen is frosted over. The group of year 13 students have invented a potato-based anti-frost spray 'Winter Warrior' for the Young Enterprise competition. Ollie Mcfelin is one of the Winter Warrior architects and spoke with Lisa Owen.

Sixty countries - including Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand - now face a new 12.5 percent tariff on goods exports to the United States.